creating-share-images

name	creating-share-images
description	Create OpenGraph and Twitter share images for Next.js applications using next/og ImageResponse. Generates dynamic social preview cards with gradients, SVG icons, and proper dimensions. Use when building OG images, Twitter cards, social previews, meta images, or share images for webapps.

Creating Share Images for Next.js

Generate dynamic OpenGraph (1200x630) and Twitter (1200x600) images using next/og ImageResponse.

Quick Start

Create app/opengraph-image.tsx:

import { ImageResponse } from "next/og";

export const runtime = "edge";
export const alt = "Page Title - Site Description";
export const size = { width: 1200, height: 630 };
export const contentType = "image/png";

export default async function Image() {
  return new ImageResponse(
    (
      <div style={{
        height: "100%",
        width: "100%",
        display: "flex",
        flexDirection: "column",
        alignItems: "center",
        justifyContent: "center",
        background: "linear-gradient(145deg, #0a0a12 0%, #0f1218 50%, #0a0a12 100%)",
        fontFamily: "system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif",
      }}>
        <h1 style={{ fontSize: 64, color: "#ffffff", margin: 0 }}>
          Page Title
        </h1>
      </div>
    ),
    { ...size }
  );
}

File Naming Convention

File	Purpose	Dimensions
opengraph-image.tsx	Facebook, LinkedIn, iMessage	1200×630
twitter-image.tsx	Twitter/X cards	1200×600

Place in route directory (e.g., app/about/opengraph-image.tsx for /about).

Design Patterns

Gradient Backgrounds

background: "linear-gradient(145deg, #0a0a12 0%, #0f1218 35%, #121620 65%, #0a0a12 100%)"

Glowing Orbs (Depth Effect)

<div style={{
  position: "absolute",
  top: -150,
  left: -100,
  width: 500,
  height: 500,
  borderRadius: "50%",
  background: "radial-gradient(circle, rgba(34,211,238,0.15) 0%, transparent 60%)",
  display: "flex",
}} />

Gradient Text

<h1 style={{
  fontSize: 62,
  fontWeight: 800,
  background: "linear-gradient(135deg, #ffffff 0%, #e2e8f0 50%, #94a3b8 100%)",
  backgroundClip: "text",
  color: "transparent",
  display: "flex",
}}>Title</h1>

SVG Icons with Gradients

<svg width="200" height="200" viewBox="0 0 100 100" fill="none"
  style={{ filter: "drop-shadow(0 0 24px rgba(34,211,238,0.35))" }}>
  <defs>
    <linearGradient id="grad" x1="0%" y1="0%" x2="100%" y2="100%">
      <stop offset="0%" stopColor="#22d3ee" />
      <stop offset="100%" stopColor="#a855f7" />
    </linearGradient>
  </defs>
  <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="45" stroke="url(#grad)" strokeWidth="2" fill="none" />
</svg>

Critical Rules

1. Always use display: "flex" on every element (Satori requirement)
2. No gap on containers without display: "flex"
3. Use inline styles only - no CSS classes or external stylesheets
4. All text must be wrapped in elements with explicit styling
5. SVG must use viewBox and explicit dimensions
6. Filter property only on SVG root - not on child elements

Color Palette by Section Type

Section	Primary	Secondary	Accent
Homepage	#3b82f6 blue	#8b5cf6 purple	#06b6d4 cyan
About	#10b981 emerald	#14b8a6 teal	#22c55e green
Projects	#f97316 orange	#f59e0b amber	#f43f5e rose
Writing	#ec4899 pink	#f472b6 rose	#6366f1 indigo
Tools/TLDR	#22d3ee cyan	#a855f7 purple	#f472b6 pink

Badge/Tag Pattern

<div style={{
  display: "flex",
  padding: "7px 14px",
  borderRadius: 8,
  background: "rgba(34,211,238,0.15)",
  border: "1px solid rgba(34,211,238,0.3)",
}}>
  <span style={{ color: "#22d3ee", fontWeight: 600, display: "flex" }}>
    Label
  </span>
</div>

Bottom Gradient Accent

<div style={{
  position: "absolute",
  bottom: 0,
  left: 0,
  right: 0,
  height: 4,
  background: "linear-gradient(90deg, transparent 0%, #22d3ee 25%, #a855f7 50%, #f472b6 75%, transparent 100%)",
  display: "flex",
}} />

Testing

After creating images, run bun run build (or npm run build) to verify routes register as dynamic:

Route (app)                    Size     First Load JS
├ ƒ /opengraph-image          0 B      0 B
├ ƒ /twitter-image            0 B      0 B

The ƒ indicates dynamic (edge) functions.

Common Issues

Issue	Solution
Text not rendering	Add display: "flex" to text wrapper
Layout broken	Ensure all containers have display: "flex"
Colors wrong	Use hex colors, not CSS variables
SVG not showing	Add explicit width/height attributes
Gradient text invisible	Need both backgroundClip: "text" AND color: "transparent"

Extended Patterns

See patterns.md for complete examples including:

• Flywheel diagrams
• Document/writing visuals
• Code window icons
• Network/connection graphics
• Journey path visualizations